Turf Talk September 16

Taranaki Apprentice Dylan Turner returns from suspension Saturday knowing he has to keep his nose clean or his future in racing could be cut short.

Turner, who hasn’t ridden all season, is on a “last chance” with his boss Paul Bourke after he was found to have forged Bourke’s name to withdraw money from his apprentice fund.

“He’s such a talented rider I have decided to give him another chance, but he knows it’s his last chance,” said Bourke.
Racing’s bosses aren’t impressed with his life choices either.

“They weren’t happy with his weight and held back returning his licence until he got it down. He’s got back to 55kgs but Dylan know he has to stay focused from now on,” Bourke said.

Purton back at Randwick

Champion Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton has been given the all clear by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to return to Sydney this weekend to resume his partnership with Sacred Falls in the Group I George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Purton last rode the Chris Waller-trained entire to a close second behind It’s A Dundeel in the Group I Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick in April. That performance followed the combination’s success in the Group I Doncaster Mile (1600m) seven days prior.

The New South Wales-born jockey started his Hong Kong premiership defence on the weekend when he rode a winning double at the season opening meeting at Sha Tin.

Purton will travel back to Australia later in the week before flying back to Hong Kong on Saturday night to ride at Sunday’s meeting at Sha Tin.

Queen’s hope out of big Cups

Two of Europe’s biggest players – the Queen and Dermot Weld – will not be represented in Melbourne this spring after their Cups contenders were ruled out.

The Queen’s horse Estimate, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, won the Doncaster Cup last Friday and it was hoped she would head to Australia for the Melbourne Cup but the Her Majesty’s racing manager John Warren issued a statement saying the mare won’t make the trip to the southern hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Europe’s first Melbourne Cup winning trainer Dermot Weld also won’t travel with his Melbourne Cup entrant Pale Mimosa due to concerns over the possible firmness of the Flemington track on the first Tuesday in November.
Two of Europe’s biggest players – the Queen and Dermot Weld – will not be represented in Melbourne this spring after their Cups contenders were ruled out.
Romance on the rise

Australian Oaks winner Rising Romance showed her spring campaign was on track with a solid gallop at Randwick today.
Rising Romance will tackle Saturday’s Gr.1 George Main Stakes after finishing fourth when resuming in the Tramway Stakes last month.
The Donna Logan-trained mare worked on the Kensington track over 1400 metres with James McDonald in the saddle.
“She felt fantastic and has improved since the Tramway (Stakes),” McDonald said.
“She’s so big and strong and will be even better when she gets out to 2000 metres and beyond.
“But off what she did this morning she can be competitive this Saturday.” – NZR

Options for Neena Rock

Randwick trainer John Sargent has yet to decide whether Kiwi mare Neena Rock will stay in Sydney or head to Melbourne for her next appearance.
He said the two options were the $A300,000 Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill on September 27 or the $A200,000 Gr.2 Blazer Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a week later.
“We’ll just see what the track conditions are like and what the opposition is like. She’s come up extra well after Saturday and should improve a bit and I couldn’t be happier with her. She’s a lovely horse and she’s showed that she’s up to it.”
The winner of the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes at Trentham last season for New Plymouth owner-trainer Warren Bolton, Neena Rock was a fast-finishing third in the Gr.3 Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday in her Australian debut. – NZR

Spring gone for El Roca

Cambridge 4yo El Roca won’t race in Melbourne this spring after suffering a leg injury. Trainer Trent Busuttin said he would now look to a new campaign in the autumn.